Introduction to Klorane

Recently I was sent a few products from Klorane to try and after using them for the last month I’m ready to give my thoughts! Having never tried the brand before, I was excited to see a shampoo, conditioner and dry shampoo included as these three are my most used hair products!

I was sent the oat milk range which is suitable for frequent use on all hair types – for reference I have long hair with greasy roots and dry ends! First up, the Klorane shampoo with oat milk* and my first impression of this was that it was a lot more liquidy (is that a word?) than I am used to! I always do two washes and I found that this didn’t lather up much with the first wash but did a little more with the second. It contains sodium laureth sulphate (not to be confused with sodium lauryl suphate), a milder cleansing agent so this could be why! It cleans my hair beautifully and leaves it with a gorgeous shine! I love how gentle this feels and how it doesn’t overload my hair with product!

I maybe should have talked about the conditioner first because as a reverse washer, I rinse my hair and use this before shampooing! Like the shampoo, the Klorane conditioner with oat milk* is super gentle and the star of the show for me! It promises to protect and detangle and I have never found a detangling product that works for me until this! As the original Tatty Bogle (top marks if you get that reference!), every time I use this I can’t get over how much more manageable my hair is and I can now actually get a brush through it without ripping hair out! Like the shampoo, it doesn’t overload or weigh my hair down, it just makes it lovely and clean and easy to manage! Both products are also suitable for children so great all-rounder’s if there are a lot of people in your household and they have a really gentle light scent!

Lastly, I was sent the Klorane Dry Shampoo with oat milk* and we all know dry shampoo is a staple in my routine (and most peoples I think!). This has a really familiar scent to me though I’m not sure where I know if from but it smells really fresh. It’s recommended to spray 10 inches from your hair then leave for two minutes before brushing the powder out. I usually rub it in a little before brushing and the powder disappears quickly leaving my hair refreshed and clean looking so I can get an extra day without washing! The dry shampoo contains silica and starch as well as beta cyclodextrine which all work together to absorb oils from the hair and they do a great job! If it’s good enough for Margot Robbie it’s good enough for me!

Overall, a lovely range of hair products and I have a new obsession in the conditioner so if you have tatty hair that you find hard to detangle you need to try this! Have you tried anything from Klorane before?

Klorane is available at Boots, Escentual.com and lookfantastic.com!

*denotes a PR sample that was sent to me. All opinions are my own.

Danielle xx

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Christmas Day Makeup 2016

Hi everyone! I hope you all had a lovely day yesterday! I usually do MOTD posts over on my Instagram but I thought I’d put up a quick post today showing the makeup I wore – I am a creature of habit and go for my favourites a lot of the time but even more so on Christmas Day so you might have heard me talk about a lot of these already!

To start with, I’ve really been enjoying the Tony Moly Brightening Eye Base – it feels cooling and refreshing and does what it says in brightening my under-eye area, leaving it smooth for me to then pop a little Soap and Glory Kick Ass concealer on top of it. I’ll then dampen my Beauty Blender and start bouncing Estee Lauder Double Wear foundation all over my face – this is hands down my favourite foundation, the stuff doesn’t budge! I don’t feel the need to put a primer on before this either, I trust it to stay in place like the bottle says and if anything, it looks better the longer I wear it!

I mattified my face using the SEVENTEEN Miracle Matte loose powder which I am really enjoying at the minute even though it’s so much messier than pressed power! It does a great job at keeping my oils at bay though so I’ll forgive it! For bronzer, I used the Charlotte Tilbury Bronze shade from the Instant Look in a palette which was Limited Edition but is now back! I don’t rate the eyeshadows or blush from this palette but the bronzer and highlight are beautiful! Blusher was my old favourite The Balm Down Boy and I then used the highlight from the CT palette for a subtle glow! 

I got my eyebrows tinted on Friday for the first time so they aren’t needing much done to them which is a nice change but I ran a little Soap and Glory Archery Brow Tint and Pencil through them anyway and set them with Benefit Ready, Set, BROW clear brow gel! This does feel a little harder than other brow gels I’ve used but doesn’t make them look crispy and sets them so well! I popped on some NARS Smudgeproof eyeshadow base then eyeshadow was Makeup Geek Shimma Shimma in my inner corner, Hipster all over the lid and Mocha in the crease and mascara was Bourjois Volume Glamour Max Holidays in waterproof, I absolutely love this! So affordable too!

I went with my favourite Charlotte Tilbury lip combo of lip cheat in Pillow Talk with K.I.S.S.I.N.G lipstick in Bitch Perfect over the top as this gives the most beautiful colour and is so long lasting too! Definitely worth the money in my opinion!

So, there we have my Christmas Day makeup! Pretty much the same as my everyday makeup up! Did you do anything special with yours?

Danielle xx

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Last Minute Beauty Lovers Christmas Gift Guide

It’s nearly Christmas, woohoo! I for one am counting down the days to getting off work and relaxing for a couple of weeks! I thought I’d put together a quick gift guide today for anyone who still has some last minute shopping or ordering to do! Heads up though – I’m a little last minute too so some of these sets are out of stock but there are a lot similar available!

Makeup

Smashbox Light it Up: Lipstick and Mattifier Set £25 and Smashbox Light it Up: LA Lights Blush Mega Palette £39

I've got a whole review on these two limited edition sets here but in short, I absolutely love them and they are perfect for anyone looking to start or expand their makeup collection! Both sets are beautiful quality and contain enough shades for everyone to do their makeup for the next year! I have to say I particularly love the blush palette and have been neglecting my other blushes since I got it and while I love the lipstick set too there are other longer lasting lipsticks on the market but for such a wide range of shades (doubled with the mattifier!) it’s a great price!

Charlotte Tilbury Hot Lips in Liv it Up £23

I think a luxe lipstick is a perfect Christmas gift – it’s not something you buy yourself every day and it’s that bit more special when you use it! This is my second CT lipstick and I absolutely love the K.I.S.S.I.N.G. formula! There are so many shades to choose from and I can’t imagine anyone who wouldn’t be happy to see one of these under the tree! Unlike the Smashbox lipsticks, these are super long lasting!

Skincare

Emma Hardie Amazing Face Starter Kit £25

I picked this up for my mum for Christmas from Cult Beauty but Emma Hardie is available in loads of stores now! My mum loves this cleanser but uses it sparingly as it’s expensive so I thought I’d get her this set so she can try the face cream too! I've also noticed they have changed the lid to a sturdier one now – I always used to split the old plastic one so I’m glad to see this!

Pixi Gift of Glow £30

I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw this set on Marks & Spencer a few weeks ago and still can’t believe it was only £30! It is ridiculously good value for some cult Pixi favourites! I absolutely love the Glow Tonic and Glow Mud Cleanser already so I am glad to have backups. I have also been meaning to try the Rose Oil Blend for ages and so far so good, it’s a lot lighter than something like the Trilogy Rosehip oil but is lovely all the same! I haven’t tried the wipes yet and I don’t use wipes that often anyway but do like to have some to hand so they will come in useful!

This would make an amazing starter set for someone looking to get into skincare but because I am so unorganised it’s out of stock L Pixi have a few other sets on Cult Beauty and Marks and Spencer but I also think any of their single items would be a gorgeous present as the products are such high quality and so effective!

Haircare

OUAI Volume Kit £40

I fell in love with the OUAI haircare range earlier this year when I was sent the repair range as well as some styling products and as I’m nearly out of the shampoo I though I would treat myself to one of these holiday kits. Never did I think I would be so “into” a haircare range but I am completely in love with OUAI and its scent! They do these sets in a few different styles so as well as Volume there is Repair and Curl but be quick as most are out of stock (sorry)! OUAI is available from Cult Beauty, Space NK, Harvey Nichols, Selfridges as well as others!

Stocking Fillers

Bee Good Hand and Lip Treats £10

I've never tried this brand myself before but I've read good reviews and picked up a couple of these sets in the Black Friday sales from Look Fantastic for a few of my aunts. It contains a good size hand cream and lip balm and I think it’s a lovely little treat for someone and I know I always like to have both of these types of products in my handbag so think they make a nice little gift or stocking filler!

So there we have the world’s worst gift guide where almost everything is out of stock! None the less, if you do still have some gifts to get I hope you got some inspiration! I hope you all have a lovely Christmas and I'll be back with another post on Boxing Day! 

What have you got on your Christmas list this year?

Danielle xx

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Managing Winter Skin with Eucerin

Although it may not be the most luxurious of skin and bodycare products, Eucerin has a special place in my routine for when my skin is feeling dry and sensitive or I've taken a reaction to another product! It’s a brand I trust completely and I’m excited to share the dry skin range today!

Generally, I wouldn’t describe my skin as dry but in winter that all changes and my usually normal skin can become irritated and dehydrated as well as itchy and uncomfortable. That’s where Eucerin’s Urea Range comes in. Put simply, Urea is a waste product (see what I mean when I say it’s not luxurious!) that is produced naturally and it works very well to rehydrate the skin including skin that’s prone to eczema, psoriasis and other dry skin conditions. See more about the range here!

Eucerin UreaRepair Plus 5% Urea Replenishing Body Wash*

I usually go for more scented body wash products in the shower but this has been lovely to use on days my skin is feeling dry or itchy. I thought it was going to be a thick cream but it’s a clear gel like consistency that doesn’t lather up too much but leaves my skin feeling soft and calm. Fragrance and soap free, its mild enough for daily use  

Eucerin Dry Skin Complete Repair Intensive Lotion 10% Urea and Aquaporin Technology RRP £13.50*

This is one of my favourite body care products ever and I’ve featured the older version here!

This is a product I always have a backup of because it’s so effective so I was excited to try the newest version which is just as good! A couple of times a year (usually extreme Winter and Summer) I randomly get itchy legs – I have no idea what causes it and it will last for a few weeks and then go away for months again. When it happens though it is the most annoying feeling and I have scratched myself raw in the past because nothing will work on it. That was until I started using the Eucerin lotion! It works straight away to calm my legs down as well as moisturising them and it is such a feeling of relief not to want to scratch them constantly! It's long lasting too, so if I apply in the morning I generally won't feel the need to reapply until I go to bed! The new version is just as great; it maybe feels a tiny bit thicker which I don’t mind as the original was very runny. Overall, if you can’t already tell, I love this product and it’s definitely my secret weapon against winter skin!

Eucerin Dry Skin Replenishing Face Cream 5% Urea with Lactate RRP £11.50*

This has been a bit of a revelation to me as though I’ve tried Eucerin moisturisers (the pots) in the past; I generally find them too rich for my skin for use in the morning. This face cream feels a lot more lightweight meaning its perfect for me in the morning and for use under my makeup. It absorbs quickly but leaves a very slight tack to the skin so I don’t feel the need to put primer over the top. This keeps my face feeling hydrated all day long and I can see myself still turning to it even when my skin goes back to its full on oiliness (its more normal at the minute)!

Eucerin UreaRepair Plus 10% Urea Footcream RRP £11.50*

This cream is very easy to rub in and sinks in quickly though I do still like to put it on at night and leave bed socks on to keep moisture in! It’s nicely hydrating and has left my heels feeling lovely and soft. It will probably get more of a test in the summer though as that’s when my feet tend to get a lot drier and cracked but I have no doubts about its ability on very dry feet!

Eucerin Aquaphor Smoothing Skin Balm RRP £9*

This is probably my least favourite of the products I was sent only for the reason it’s one that doesn’t completely sink in! It feels a bit like Vaseline in a tube and comes out as a thick balm. This is recommended for very dry or cracked skin and I have been using it mainly on my elbows where it does a great job of softening them. I don’t like the fact it transfers though and can get on my bed clothes so it’s definitely one I’m a little more careful with! I feel like this tube will last ages as a little goes a long way and if you have particularly dry skin and want something that creates a protective barrier I think you will love this!

So those are my thoughts on the Dry Skin range from Eucerin! It gets a big thumbs up from me and I think the price point is just right – although you will always get Eucerin cheaper because it falls under the French pharmacy offers as well as 3 for 2’s at most of the major retailers it’s sold at like Boots, Superdrug, Feel Unique, Escentual and Look Fantastic as well as independent chemists!

  

What do you think of Eucerin? Have you tried anything from the brand before?

*denotes a PR sample that was sent to me. All opinions are my own.

Danielle xx

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Forever Repurchased #3

Do you ever start a series on your blog only to completely forget about it and leave a year between post numbers #2 and #3?  Yep, well today I’d like to welcome back Forever Repurchased to the blog! Much like my empties (which I’m very good at keeping up with even if I do say so myself) there will probably be a few products here you’ve heard me rave about before and at least one I have mentioned in previous posts in this series (see 1 here and 2 here)!

Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay in Place Makeup in Desert Beige

If I could only keep one item of makeup, this would be it. It is the only foundation I fully trust to last on my skin all day and not only that, this actually looks as good if not better at the end of the day as it does at the start! Usually a steep £31, I managed to get this in the Black Friday sales on Lookfantastic.com for around £24. My favourite way to apply is with a Beauty Blender as I find it easiest to blend like this and be aware that this foundation does set fast. It’s the fullest coverage foundation I own and although I went on somewhat of a foundation finding spree this year, I have no idea why I bothered when I already had the perfect foundation all along. If you have oily skin and want full coverage, get a tester of this, it’s amazing!

Vichy Aqualia Thermal Serum

Another old favourite that I treated myself to a backup of during the Black Friday sales! This is my favourite serum – its lightweight, hydrating, soothing and just a dream to apply. My skin drinks this up and a bottle lasts me a good length of time. It does seem to keep creeping up in price though but thankfully it’s continually on offer through French pharmacy promotions on websites like Escentual.com and Boots! One thing I have noticed with this is they have changed the pump to a white one instead of the nice silver one they used to have which I thought looked a little more luxe! Oh well, as long as the product inside is the same we’ll be OK!

Nivea Daily Essentials Double Effect Eye Makeup Remover

As a waterproof mascara wearer, oil based/two-phase eye makeup removers are my go to. I last featured the Garnier 2 in 1 Express eye makeup remover in a forever repurchased post and while I still love that one, when the Nivea is only £1.75 in Superdrug you pick up a couple to keep you going! This does a great job of removing my eye makeup quickly and gently, it just seems to melt it off and I don’t have to rub too hard or tug on my lashes. If you haven’t tired this before and struggle getting your eye makeup off you need to give this a go!

NIOD Copper Amino Isolate Serum 1%

I featured this quite recently in my last empties post and I looked out for it during Black Friday but it seemed to be excluded from promotions unfortunately. I gave up getting it until a Deciem email popped into my inbox with some offers on the NIOD and Hylamide bundles, so yours truly saw this as a sign and snapped them up! The product comes with two little bottles and you pour one into the other then shake to make the serum which is a watery blue liquid that sinks in quickly. I haven’t got round to opening this just yet as it only came on Friday but my skin lapped my last bottle up. The serum is meant to work positively on the skins overall health so it’s in a constant state of repair and concentrates on texture, pigmentation, enlarged pores and more. I used this once a day (to make it last for as long as possible – it’s only a 15ml bottle!) and my skin always felt so smooth after use. All the time I was using it my skin was clearer and breakouts were much less frequent! I’m so glad to have it back and get it into my routine again and I would kill to get my hands on the 5% version of this stuff but at £130 it’s a little way off!

Blistex Relief Cream

As a lip balm addict I probably exacerbate my dry lips but last month they were on another level!  My lips have never felt like how they did even when I was on Roaccutane. They were chapped, constantly flaking and I felt like I had 5 layers of skin on top of them – not a good look. None of my usual lip balms were doing anything for them so I took to Twitter for some suggestions! Caroline recommended Blistex to me and it was then that I remembered the Relief Cream that I used years ago. The next day I went to Boots and got myself a new tube and like it says on the tin, all I felt was relief. I cannot explain to you how amazing this stuff is if you suffer with dry/cracked lips, it is literally a miracle worker! My lips were back to normal within minutes!

It comes in a little metal tube which you have to be a little careful with as once you squeeze it more will keep coming out! It's a small price to pay for such a hero product though and I won't be without this little tube ever again!

So those are my most recent repurchases! Let me know if any of these are favourites of yours!

Danielle xx

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Smashbox Light it Up Christmas Sets – Lipsticks and Blush

Blush and lipstick are kinda my thing so when spotted these on Instagram I knew they would have to be mine! I love Smashbox eyeshadows and their contour powder but haven’t tried anything from their lipstick range or the blushes so these two sets are perfect to try the formula out or just add to your collection!

They have collaborated with California neon artist Meryl Pataky to bring these limited edition sets out and each is housed in a neon plastic container. I originally thought this was a drawer but it’s a container with a lid that's really hard wearing and bright and perfect for makeup storage! You can see the Neon packaging a little better in this Instagram photo!

Smashbox Light it Up: Lipstick and Mattifier Set £25

I actually first saw this while I was having my yearly flick though the Boots Christmas book and swiftly added it to my list then got it for my birthday a few weeks ago! I've wanted to try the Be Legendary lipsticks for ages now but a full size is £17.50 and I wasn’t completely sure what shade I wanted so this seemed like the perfect way to try the formula and a few different shades! I also think its great value – a full size lipstick is 3g but there are 6 minis in this set at 2.4g each as well as a Insta-Matte Lipstick Transformer. The 6 shades included are all in the cream formulation and the shades are Famous (a nude), Primrose (a perfect pinky nude daily type shade for me), Fig (a plum great for this time of year), Legendary (a bright red), Tabloid (a purple) and Inspiration (a bright pink).

Smashbox Be Legendary crema lipsticks in Famous, Fig and Primrose

I’ve only tried half of the shades as the last three I mentioned aren’t shades I go for normally and I might actually just sell them but I’m really enjoying the three I have been wearing, especially Primrose! I have found that these creams aren’t as long lasting as say the Charlotte Tilbury KISSING lipsticks which is a little disappointing as the full size are still quite a high price point but overall I do really like them. They feel very moisturising and give a good amount of pigment. Plus the addition of the Insta-Matte Lipstick Transformer to put over the top giving you a velvety matte finish is a nice touch although the matte does still transfer a little!

Smashbox Light it Up: LA Lights Blush Mega Palette £39

I tried and I tried to resist this palette but when a 15% off email fell into my inbox I gave in and boy am I glad I did! First off, I love the matte black plastic packaging with the red edging and the huge mirror inside. The closure is not the most secure – it’s not magnetic and doesn’t snap but I still think it would be safe enough to travel with. Inside are 9 pans of blush, bronzer and highlight – 6 mattes and 3 shimmers. The top row sticks to coral shades and the second row covers berry shades then down the way are the rich shades, true shades and the right hand side of the palette is the highlight side.

I have been using this nonstop since I got it and I love it! Matte blushes are my favourite so they have been in constant rotation. The palette is classed as a blush, contour and highlight palette and I think Rich Bronze is just a tad warm to straight up contour with but it’s lovely to warm up the face. As usual, I haven’t used the highlighters much but they are very subtle and would do great as a bush topper if you wanted something on top of the matte blush!

All the blushes have the perfect amount of pigmentation and are easy to build up and they last all day on my skin. I think this palette is exclusive to the Smashbox website as it’s not on Boots and like I said they always have great offers on if you did want to treat yourself!

Overall, I think these are two perfect gift sets for anyone looking to expand or add to their lipstick or blush collection and I’m so happy to have them in my own collection! Have you tried anything from Smashbox before? What makeup sets have you got your eye on this Christmas?

Danielle xx

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False Eyelashes and my Application Tips

I remember the first time I wore a pair of false lashes years ago on a night out at uni and loving the difference they made. They were the Eylure Girls Aloud (Nadine) ones if I remember correctly and they just made me feel so much more “done” if that makes sense? I vowed I would never go out again without a pair of lashes on but that didn’t last long and I generally have a love/hate relationship with false lashes. On one hand I love the added length, volume and definition they give but I hate the extra time they take and as someone who is usually rushing to get ready, false lashes are the first thing to get left out unfortunately!

When I do wear them, I am mostly loyal to the infamous Ardell Demi Wispies and the underrated No.7 Natural Volume lashes but I was excited to try some new natural lashes when falseeyelashes.co.uk got in touch! It was perfect timing too as I was on holiday last week so had some extra time to apply them as we weren’t in a rush!

I was sent a couple of pairs so here’s what I thought of them and my application tips if you’re a newbie to lashes! Also, apologies I don’t have any photos of them on me but I forgot my camera when I was on holiday and I've never been great at taking close ups of my eyes! The falseeyelashes.co.uk website shows the lashes on a models eye though!

Lashes by Samantha Oh! So Natural false lashes by Sam Faiers £5*

I knew I would get on with these as soon as I saw them! They are a gorgeous pair of lashes with a really subtle flare at the end of the lash. These are the first pair of lashes to fit my eyes perfectly and I loved that I didn’t have to cut them! They are really lightweight and comfortable to wear and came with lash glue included. I’ll say that I didn’t love the lash glue though – it felt a little like a gel but I don’t think the lashes felt as secure as when I use my usual DUO glue! The second time I went to use the glue that came with them I found it had dried around the lid a lot too so I was definitely glad I had my DUO with me!

I know I’ve read that Sam suffers with a compulsion to pull her eyelashes out so I think she is a great person to put her name to false lashes and there seems to be a few other lashes in her range if you want more drama!

Red Cherry #747S eyelashes (Primrose) £3.99*

Red Cherry is a brand I’ve heard a lot about but I had never tried and when I first saw these, I thought they looked so different to what I normally go for because they seem to have more length in the middle then taper towards each end. I had to trim these lashes by three segments as the lash line was so long! They are made of real hair and although the description says they are “short length falsies” I would disagree as they are quite long when they are on. Saying that, they do give a lovely full lash effect but are a bit more dramatic than what I go for. I do have hooded eyes though so that could be why I felt like that! These are also lightweight on the lash line but bear in mind that these don’t come with a tube of glue. This isn’t something that bothers me as I always have a tube of DUO and I find the lash glue that comes with most falsies dries out quickly and is only good for one application anyway!

Anytime I wear a new pair of lashes I like to have a few things by my side namely some tweezers, nail scissors and some DUO glue and then I’ll follow these steps!

1.      Gently remove the lash from the packaging and check how it fits against your eye. If it's too long for your eye line, trim the outer edge with nail scissors to fit. Bend the lash a little to loosen it up so it’s less likely to lift at the ends.

2.      Grab a pair of tweezers and hold the middle of the lash while applying a thin, even layer of glue all over the band.

3.      Hold for about 20 -30 seconds to allow the glue to half dry and go tacky so it sticks easier to the lash line.

4.      Using the tweezers, find the centre of your lash line and stick the band here then grab each end in turn and place them as close to your lash line as possible.

5.      Allow to dry then using the tweezers or your fingers make sure the falsies are blended with your own lashes – I sometimes add another coat of mascara as well!

Oh and just a quick word on DUO - I don't know how many tubes of this I have thrown out straight after opening because I though it was off, the stuff stinks! It has an awful fishy smell which is completely normal according to the Internet and it does dry scent free and clear thankfully!

The falseeyelashes.co.uk website has a really great range of lashes including Ardell, Eylure and House of Lashes as well as mascara and brow products at really affordable prices and they offer free first class delivery in the UK! I’ll definitely be ordering from them in the future!

Let me know what your favourite false lashes are!

*denotes a PR sample that was sent to me. All opinions are my own.

Danielle xx

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My Favourite Makeup Brushes #2

I did a “My Favourite Makeup Brushes” post way back last year and although all those brushes are still in daily use, there are a few more that I use regularly so I thought I would do a little update!

Zoeva 102 Silk Finish Brush (from the Rose Golden set)

I really didn’t like this brush to begin with and it sat unloved in my brush pot because I found it left a streaky finish with my usual liquid foundations. That all changed when I got the Vincent Longo Water Canvas Crème-to-Powder foundation* recently. I found the sponge that came with the foundation didn’t give me enough coverage and my usual fail safe Beauty Blender had the same problem so I dug around for this and it works perfectly! It helps build up coverage and it’s so easy to work into the skin because the bristles are so tightly packed.

Real Techniques Blush Brush

This is a brush that I used to use daily about 3 years ago for blush until I felt it was putting a little too much blush on my cheeks and I switched to an angled blush brush (how many times can I say blush and brush in a sentence). Nowadays, I much prefer this as a bronzer brush and I love it with NARS Laguna and Charlotte Tilbury Bronze in particular!

Real Techniques Duo Fibre Face Brush from the Duo Fibre set

As someone who has a tendency to be a little heavy handed with blush this brush is a godsend for blending! If I have gone overboard it does such good job of helping to fade it a little and make my blush look more natural!

Morphe B8 Badger Deluxe Fan Brush

With my fear of highlighter, this brush means that anytime I apply it, it’s subtle exactly how I like it! The brush is very soft and I would prefer the bristles to be a little stiffer but it does the job and it didn’t break the bank!

Zoeva 232 Luxe Classic Shader from the Rose GoldenVol. 2 Complete Eye Set

I've been using this brush to highlight my inner corner and brow bone and really like it! It’s quite stiff and allows you to be quite precise too so is great for applying the likes of the Makeup Geek foiled eyeshadows all over the lid!

Zoeva 227 Luxe Soft Definer from the Rose Golden Vol.2 Complete Eye Set

This has replaced my beloved RT angled shadow brush as my preferred eyeshadow blender brush now! It is the perfect size and just makes blending so easy and I now have three of these babies! I also have a full review of the set these last two brushes came in here!

Anastasia Beverly Hills #12 Large Synthetic Duo Brow Brush

This brush makes applying Anastasia Dipbrow Pomade a doddle! It’s quite a stiff angled brush with synthetic bristles and it gives such a fine line it makes it so easy to apply hair like strokes through my brows! I love that it has a spoolie on one end too which makes it perfect to travel with!

So that’s my updated favourite brushes! I have to add that all these brushes wash up really well even though they are from different brands and I haven’t noticed any of them shedding which is another bonus!

As you are reading this I’m on holiday for my birthday (which is tomorrow!) but I’ll be doing my best to keep up with comments so do leave me one below and let me know if you have any of these brushes and what do you think of them!

*denotes a PR sample that was sent to me. All opinions are my own.

Danielle xx

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Five Things I’m Loving | November 2016

I can’t believe I haven’t done one of these posts since March! This is the reason I could never commit to a monthly favourites! Anyway, there are a mix of products here, some are new to me within the last month and others are on their last legs and I love them so much I thought they deserved to feature in a post other than an empties!

Revlon Volume + Length Magnified Waterproof Mascara RRP £9.99

I picked this up ages ago (definitely longer than I care to remember!) but it seems the longer its open the more I like it! I know mascara is a very personal choice but I’ve found this does exactly what it says and gives me both length and volume as well as separation and definition! I love that it has bristles instead of a plastic wand and it is impossible to get clumpy lashes with this! I've tried so many time to get close ups of my lashes but its impossible – if you have any tips please leave them in the comments!

Vichy Quenching Mineral Masque* RRP £14

Vichy recently came out with three new face masks and I was sent the Quenching Mineral mask which could not have come at a better time for my skin! Every year I have the same problem where my usually oily skin goes haywire with the change in weather and becomes dehydrated and patchy in places. This mask feels amazingly cooling and refreshing and has been helping to regulate my skin! It contains thermal water from the French volcanoes, vitamin B3 and glycerin which all work to soothe and hydrate my skin leaving it feeling plumper and smoother!

The mask itself has a non-greasy, lightweight gel texture that sinks in quickly. It’s scented of green tea, jasmine water and bamboo and smells amazing! I know some people are sensitive to scented products but I personally don’t mind! The mask is also allergy tested and paraben free. I've been keeping this on my bathroom windowsill to keep it as cool as possible and it is a real treat to apply! I use it over the top of my trusty Vichy Aqualia Thermal serum and the two are a dreamy combination! The Vichy Quenching Mineral Masque is available from Boots, Escentual and Feel Unique!

Smashbox Photo Matte Eyes palette RRP £38.50

Another all matte eyeshadow palette, I know! But it’s another palette I love and after giving all the attention to the Kat Von D Shade + Light and Urban Decay Ultimate Basics I thought it was time to talk about this one! I adore the shade range in this and there isn’t a shade I wouldn’t use – even those couple of pinker shades! It has a great range of cool tones as well as a few warm and the shades can be used wet or dry and as shadows, liners or brow products. The brush that came with it is probably one of the better brushes I've received with a palette!

Clockwise top l-r: Desert, Heirloom, Dune, Vanilla (large pan), Canyon, Suede, Earthy

Clockwise top l-r: Wheat (large pan), Grounded, Rosehip, Haze, Blackout, Ditch, Jolt

I would say that this palette isn’t just as pigmented as the Kat Von D or Makeup Geek shadows I’ve tried but it’s of the highest quality, the shadows don’t fade and they last all day on my oily lids with a primer. Smashbox do mattes really well, they are never patchy and there are no disappointing shades in this palette! I ordered directly from the Smashbox website and they always have discount codes available! I can’t get enough of Smashbox at the minute and have a lipstick set on my Christmas list!

Bed Head Small Talk RRP £9.50

Another oldie but a goody and this has actually featured in a post before! I always come back to this when my hair starts looking a little straggly and I'm trying to hold off going to the hairdressers. It makes the ends of my hair look so much thicker and healthier and helps seal my split ends until I wash my hair again. It also acts as a thermal protectant and just generally makes my hair easier to blow dry and straighten! I’m not normally a fan of fruity scents but I love this and even though it’s a cream it doesn’t add oil or weight to my fine hair!

NARS Audacious Lipstick in Anita RRP £24

This is one of the newest lipsticks in my collection and one I can’t believe took me so long to get! The Audacious line is very hyped within the beauty blogging world and now I can see why! This lipstick is so creamy and opaque with great lasting power! I struggled to pick a shade but eventually went with Anita which is a rosy pink and I definitely don’t think this will be my last! It also has quite possibly the most satisfying magnetic lipstick closure!

*denotes a PR sample that was sent to me. All opinions are my own.

Have you tried any of these products before? Tell me what you’ve been loving recently!

Danielle xx

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